James f



(N0 ModL) J. F. SHANNON.

UAR COUPLING.

No. 428,355. Patented May 20, 1890.

/N VENTOH A TTOHNE rs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. SHANNON, OF MACOMB, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ADOLPHUS IV. FALKENTHAL, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 428,355, dated May 20, 1890.

Application filed January 23, 1890. Serial No. 337,826. (No model.)

practical device, whereby the coupling of cars may be effected automatically and danger to operatlves be avoided.

To this end my invention consists in certain features of construction and combina tions of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, 111 which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation in section of the draw-head and a link, the pin-supporting devices being shown in elevation and the parts being adjusted to receive the link. Fig. 2 represents a central longitudinal sectional elevation of the coupling, showing the parts adjusted and with a link therein. Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective view of an important part of the device detached and enlarged. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the link-andpin -guiding piece enlarged and removed from the draw-head, and Fig. 5 is a front end elevation of the car-coupling.

A represents the draw-head body, preferably cast into form, the front end portion a being made of cupulate form to receive and guide the link B into a longitudinally-extended throat A, which is produced in the body A. The side walls of the body A are vertical and parallel, the top wall being at right angles thereto. From the front inwardly a proper distance the throat of the draw-head has its bottom surface curved in cross-section, as represented in Fig. 5, and at b, within the passage A, a wall is produced or inserted and secured by bolts or other means. Said wall is of such relative height as to afford a reduced passage above it from front to rear edges of the same, and from its front face a longitudinal socket-orifice 11' extends rearward therein. A sliding block 0 (shown in Fig. 3) has a projection c from its rear end,which is made to slide freely within the socket b in the wall I), and upon the reduced end of the projection c a spiral spring 0 is placed. Said spring, engaging the bottom of the socket, is thus adapted to project the block 0 forwardly, its normal position be ing shown in Fig. 1, Where the parts are adjusted to receive the thrust of a couplinglink B. 011 the front face of the block a a tongue at is formed, aligning with its lower surface and projecting toward the cupped front end of the draw-head a suitable distance for effective service.

A vertical perforation is made through the draw-head body, near the flaring month thereof, for reception of the coupling-pin C, which is loosely fitted so as to drop by its gravity through the aligning-holes in the top and bottom walls of the body A.

On the sliding block 0 a cap-plate e is secured by attachment thereto of its depending parallel flanges e, which flanges are of such depth that a longitudinal opening 9 extends between the cap-plate e and block 0 the length of the cap-plate with regard to its forward extension, when the'parts are adj usted, as shown in Fig. 1, being sufficient to locate its front end 6 below the raised pin 0 and support it, the rear end of said cap-plate projecting above the guide-wall b and being sufliciently removed therefrom to admit the introduction of another piece, as will now be explained.

A flat thin elastic plate g, which is made to fit loosely in the opening e between the cap-plate e and sliding block 0, is attached by a bolt g to the top surface of the wall 17, its front end beingfirmly secured to a block h, located near the front of the draw-head throat. The link-guide block h has its forward face curved downwardly and rearwardly to adapt it to guide below it an inserted coupling-link B, and is slotted at its transverse center from the front face rearwardly a sufficient distance to permit the coupling-pin C to drop through into a hole in the lower wall of the draw-head when the parts are adjusted as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower side of the block h is curved ICO rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, and is level (transversely considered) or at right angles to the parallel sides of the same, so as to bear equally on each side of an inserted link B. (See Fig. 2.)

At '5 a depending lip is formed on the upper wall of the draw-head of such length (vertically considered) as to form an abutment, against which the guide-block h will be in sliding contact when the parts are in uncoupled adjustment, as shown in Fig. 1, said lip preventing the link 0 from being accidentally entered above the block, if the coupling is being effected between a high and low car, as considered from the track to bumpertimbers of the cars.

In operation the link is inserted in a drawhead A on a car to be coupled to another and at a safe distance therefrom, and as the seat on which it rests below the block his curved in cross-section the bearing of the link-body will be such thereon as to adjust the link in a horizontal plane when pressed upon by the longitudinally-rounded lower surface of the guide-block 71, so that the act of inserting the link below the block will always project the free end of the link outwardly at right angles to the pin 0. When a draw-head having a coupling-link located in place, as shown in Fig. 2, is made to approach a draw-head on a car not so provided and having its parts in adjustment, as shown in Fig. 1, the link 0 will impinge on the rounded front face of the guide-block h and be directed below it, the elasticity of the plate 9 permitting the block to rise and the link to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. It will be apparent that the contact of the link end with the tongue d on the sliding block 0 will move said block rearwardly, compressing the spring 0 which movement will carry the cap-plate 6 along with the block it is attached to and remove its end from beneath the coupling-pin that has been supported thereon. The latter named will fall into place, as shown in Fig. 2, and

effect a secure coupling of the adjacent cars. (Not shown.)

It is contemplated to provide a suitable lever attachment whereby the coupling-pin C may be lifted from either side of the car, and thus avoid the entrance of an operative between the cars ,to uncouple the same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination,with an apertured drawhead, a guide-block, and a plate-spring extending therefrom which is attached to the draw-head, of a slide-block, and a plate on the slide-block which may support a coupling- .pin in uncoupled position, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a draw-head and a springsupported guide -block which is adapted to clamp an inserted link and hold it extended horizontally, of a spring-actuated sliding block and a plate on this sliding block which may support a coupling-pin in uncoupled position, substantially as set forth.

3. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a longitudinally-apertured draw-head, of a spring-actuated slide-block having the lower forward extension 01 and upper forward extension 6 and a spring-supported guide-block, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with a longitudinallyapertured draw-head provided with a wall I), having socket b, of a sliding block having a cap-plate extending forwardly and rearwardly therefrom and forming an opening (2 and having a projection c and a spring 0 substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a longitudinallyapertured draw-head, a spring-actuated sliding block having a connected cap-plate and adapted to reciprocate in the draw-head, of a spring-supported guide-block, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a draw-head having a longitudinal aperture and a guide-wall in said aperture, and having the lower surface of its throat curved, a guide-block slotted from its front face rearward and curved to guide a coupling-link, of a spring-actuated sliding block, a cap-plate thereon, and a platespring which passes between the sliding block and its cap-plate and connects the guideblock-with the guide-wall, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a longitudinallyapertured draw-head having a socketed guide- Wall and having the lower surface of its throat curved downwardly, and a guide-block therein which has its body slotted to admit a coupling-pin and rounded on its front face and lower edges rearwardly to adapt it to guide a coupling-link and hold it horizontal on the curved face of the draw-head lower wall, of a spring-plate extension for the guideblock, a sliding block having a rearwardlyprojecting limb and a forwardly-projecting tongue, and a spiral spring which engages this limb in the socket of the guide-wall, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with a longitudinallyapertured draw-head provided with a depending lip at the front edge of its throat, a downwardly-curved lower face therein, and a socketed wall, of a slotted guide-block having its front face curved and its lower face longitudinally rounded, a plate-spring extension for the guide-block attached to the guidewall, a sliding block having a forward tongue, a rearward limb which enters the socket in the guide-wall, a cap-plate, and a spiral spring, substantially as set forth.

JAMES F. SHANNON.

Witnesses:

CHARLES V. CHANDLER, CHARLES I. IMES. 

